OHanlons Thomas Hardys Ale (vintage 2003 and later)

Brewed by OHanlons
Style: Barley Wine
Whimple, England

Pours a deep amber red with a thin head. Plum, toffee, raisins, figs, and chocolate flavors with an acidic woody finish

Color: Pours a rusty brown with almost no head. Aroma: Some fruit: tangerines, currants. Spices are present as well: cinnamon notes and a touch of anise. Taste/Mouthfeel: Very big, thick sweet malts. Some earthy spices are present. Woody and earthy hops balance out the sweetness of the malt beautifully. Finish: Very coarse and bitter finish. Notes of toasted oak as well. Dry, woody lingering bitterness on the palate. Notes: English barley wines tend to have less hop emphasis compared to their American brethren. They tend to use less finishing hops and and are usually not dry-hopped. Additionally English hop varieties are used rather than American Pac NW strains. This results in ales that have more emphasis on earthy, woody, and fruity tones rather than the bold citrus notes common in American versions. Very interesting bottle with donning an ornamental medallion. This was an enjoyable beer. The sweetness was strong, but not cloying. The alcohol made an appearance, but it didn’t stay too long. For a beer that starts so sweet, the finish is surprisingly dry.

Pours dark reddish brown with no head. Maeira like with dried fruits and spices in the finnish. Chocolate notes as well. Unbalanced with the alcohol to present. Great cellaring potential.

bottle (tasting hosted by after4ever) - 2004 batch; slightly lighter than the 1987 with more head; aromas and flavors aren’t nearly as mellow either; more carbonation and bite to the alcohol

This is a tremendous beer. I found it quite delightful. Wonderfully sweet and bitter. Thick and satisfying. I would like to have a few cases of this in the manor, but how do I prevent Lady Crabapple from getting her hands on it?

2005. Pours ugly brown, no head whatsoever, just a sawdust layer of sediment coating the top. Aroma - caramel apple, maple syrup. Super sweet flavor, maple syrup, demerara, can see why someone would want to put this away long term. As it is now though, this is just way too sweet to enjoy. Too bad.

Note: this was a 2007 edition. I did not age this at all, and thus to be fair, I’ll have to age one of these for a few years. Good overall, but not as enjoyable as other barley wines I have had. Aroma is sweet and malty, with some alcohol, and a fruity/vegetable aroma. The color is a reddish brown, very cloudy, with the sentiment of fermenation clearly visible. The taste is sweet, with an alcohol dryness, resembling sherry or port wine. Very complex, and interesting. Finish is lingering, with a good deal or alcohol and sweetness. Medium to thick mouthfeel. This is a little off the beaten path, and a little more difficult to appreciate. At $6 a bottle, I wouldn’t make a habit of this. I’ll probably get the 1999 version ($10/bottle!!) just to compare.

8.5oz bottle - 2004 vintage. Pours a deep, hazy, russet/brown with some highlights of orange. No head. The aroma is complex and "chewy" - malts, more malts, and even more malts. There is a complex blend of other smells - alcohol, tobacco, touch of smoke, fruit (prunes and bourbon-soaked figs), and Marsala wine. The flavor starts with a slight tingle of acid that gives the impression of a citrusy vitamin C chewable. That is only a flirting flavor, quickly followed up with lots and malt and fruit. Vinous fruit, thick caramel, and heavy malts coat the front of the tongue. The middle of the tongue picks up on a pretty decent bitterness. The bitterness is fruity and herbal and blends with the sweet malts to form a slightly prune and citrus tone. The back of the tongue detects the tickle of carbonation and acidity - though ever so slight. The beer finishes very malty, but not overpoweringly sweet thanks to an interesting dose of fruity hop bitterness. The finish is long, full in body, and leaves a resin of earthy hops and huge, sticky malts on the back of the throat (not really a resin - but a very solid after-taste). The mouthfeel is quite thick and full with next to no carbonation to lighten it. Overall, very complex and interesting - but not the most drinkable brew. Definitely a good fire-side sippin’ beer though.